Freshman Elijah Ortiz is the third in his family to attend Gibson Southern, following his older brother Orlando and older sister Sonia. He is enrolled in all three honors classes that freshmen can take: Honors Biology, Honors English 9 and Honors Geometry. When not in class, Ortiz can be found on the football field or the basketball court.
_____
The Southerner: What is your dream job?
Ortiz: “Pilot because it has fascinated me.”
The Southerner: “What do you like to do in your spare time?”
Ortiz: “Play sports, like basketball and football.”
The Southerner: “What is your favorite song?”
Ortiz: “I don’t listen to music very often, so I don’t have one.”
The Southerner: “What is your favorite memory out here at Gibson Southern?”
Ortiz: “So far it has been football practices. I get to hang out with upperclassmen and get to meet some people that I wouldn’t normally.”
The Southerner: “What is your favorite place to eat at?”
Ortiz: “Señor Tequila’s. I like to eat burritos.”
The Southerner: “What is your favorite color?”
Oritz: “Pink or red. Pink is a pretty color and red because it all matches.”
Southerner: What is the best gift you’ve ever received?
Ortiz: “My dogs: Raider, Dodger and Malibu. Dodger was a Father’s Day present for the whole family, Raider was an early Christmas present and Malibu was the next year’s early Christmas present. Raider is a mini-Australian Shepherd, Dodger is a toy Australian Shepherd and Malibu is a long-haired chihuahua.”
Southerner: How important are grades to you?
Ortiz: “Grades are very important. I’ve always held myself to a high standard with my grades. I think the reason for it is my mom has always been hard on me and told me I need to get good grades.”
Southerner: What is your favorite school lunch?
Ortiz: “Popcorn chicken. You can never go wrong with popcorn chicken and the sides that go with it. I dip mine in a barbeque.”
Southerner: How long does it take you to get ready in the morning?
Ortiz: “About 30 minutes. First I wake up and get out of bed. Then, I put on clothes and brush my teeth. And then I eat, brush my teeth again, grab my backpack and leave.”
Southerner: Who is your favorite person you have met so far this year?
Ortiz: “Eli Weisheit. I have him in quite a few classes, and he’s pretty funny.”
Southerner: What is the best thing about Dawson Maurer?
Ortiz: “The fact that he likes me so much. Me and him have a special connection. He’s always looking at me in class, and I start laughing. Dawson is a genius.”
Southerner: When you are stressed, what do you do to relax?
Ortiz: “I either play a game with Cooper [Wahl] or play basketball. I’m a better basketball player than Cooper Wahl.”
If you would like to be featured in the dossier, email “The Southerner” at [email protected].
Cooper Wahl • Sep 25, 2023 at 10:26 am
Dawson likes me more.